Machine for bending hat-wires



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. NUTT.

MACHINE FOR BENDING HAT WIRES. No. 439,890. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

(Nd Model.) 4 Sheefis-Sheet 2. J. NUTT.

I I MACHINE FOR BENDING HAT WIRES. N0. 439,890.- Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheet8-$heet 3.

' J. NUTT.

MACHINE FORBENDING HAT WIRES.

N0..439.890. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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(No Model.)

J. NUTT.

MACHINE FOB. BENDING HAT WIRES.

Patented'Nov. 4, 1890.-

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH NUTT, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOR BEND-ING HAT-WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,890, dated November 4, 1890.

Application filed October 1, 1888. Serial No. 286,873. (No model.)

- To all whom it vita/y concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH NUTT, of Danbury, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvementin Machines for BendingHat-Wires and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part 7 of this specification, and represent, in

' to rear; Fig. 7, a transverse section on the shortestdiameter-that is, cutting through the center from side to side; Fig. 8, a rear View of the machine complete; Fig. 9, a working end view of the machine; Fig. 9, a detached view of the shoe between the bending rollslide and its cam; Fig. 10, a top or plan View of the machine complete; Fig. 11, an opposite end view from Fig. 9; Fig. 12, a detached view showing the crank-motion for operating the slide M; Fig. 13, a partial vertical transverse section cutting on line 13 '13 of Fig. 8, looking toward the lever S, to illustrate the mechanism for imparting longitudinal move ment to the cutter-slide, portions not necessary to the understanding of this part of the invention being omitted; Figs. lat and 16, longitudinal sections through the cutter-slide on line 14 of Fig. 10, showing parts in side view, the cutters in Fig. 14 shown open and in Fig. 16 closed; Fig. 15, a horizontal longitudinal section on broken line, Fig. 14, showing the mechanism for opening and closing the cut ters; Fig. 17 a face view of the rotative arm which imparts longitudinal movement to advance the longitudinal cam 10 for opening and closing the cutters; Fig. 18, a transverse vertical section cutting on line 18 of Fig. 8, looking toward the right and illustrating the mechanism for imparting the rotation to the cam 12, parts not required in this illustration being omitted; Fig. 19, a longitudinal section cutting through the cam-wheel on line 19 of Fig. 18; Fig. 20, a top view of the clutch mechanism for connecting the gear 6 with the shaft.

This invention relates to an improvement in machines to automatically shape the wire springs or frames which are introduced into the brims of hats to give the requisite stiffness to the edge of the brim and the required dip at the front and rear. These frames must have an outline corresponding tothe periphery of the brim. Sometimes this is a complete circle. At other times it is elliptical that is, the diameter is great-er from front to rear than from side to side; but in any case it is necessary that the brim shall dip atthe front and rear. Hence the brim must curve from the center sides downward to the center rear and center front, and to do this a corresponding curve is given to the spring or frame, so that the frame secured to the brim will give to and retain the required shape of the brim. If the wire be simply bent edgewise into a hoop shape, as seen in Fig. 1, and so that the wire lies in a horizontal plane, as seen in Fig. 2, the hoop has the outline of the brim in a horizontal plane, but without the dip required at the front and rear. If this fiat hoop be bent to give the required dip, as seen in Fig. 3, the wire will lie in a flat plane at the sides, as seen in Fig. 4, but from the center sides will gradually incline downward, as seen at the extreme ends in Fig. 3. \Vhile this gives considerable strength to the brim radially, it affords very little support to the brim vertically-that is to say, in applying the hat to or removing it from the head the person naturally takes hold of the front of the brim, and lifting or drawing it down, as the case may be, tends to bend the brim. The spring, lying flat, as I have described, offers but trifling resistance to such bending, the

result of which is that the front part of the.

brim frequently breaks.

My invention has for its object to put a twist into the wire at the quarters-that is, mid way between the center sides and the center front and rear whereby the wire will be in substantially a flat or horizontal plane at the center sides, but from that point gradually twists into a plane at the front at right angles to the plane of the brim, as seen in Fig. 5, Fig. 6 illustrating the position of the wire at the center'front and rear and Fig. 7 the position of the wire at the center sides.

A represents the bed upon which the operative mechanism of the machine is arranged; B, the driving-shaft, which is supported in suitable bearings, and to which rotative movement is imparted through a pulley C on a counter-shaft D, carrying a pinion E, which works into a gear F on the driving-shaft, or otherwise, so that a continuous rotation is imparted to the driving-shaft.

At the working end of the machine in a bracket G an oscillating tubular spindle H is supported, through which the wire is. introduced. This spindle at its inner end carriesa pair of wheels I J, the plane of the wheels being in'the plane of the axis of the spindle H, as seen in Figs. 9 and 10, the wheels being supported so that they may partake of the oscillation which is imparted to the spindle H. The passage Kthrough the spindle H leads directly between the two wheels I J. The periphery of one of these wheels is grooved, and the other wheel is made with a corresponding tongue to work into said groove, the space between the tongue of one wheel and the bottom of the groove of the other corresponding to the width and thickness of the wire, the width beingin the plane of the axis of the wheel, as seen in Fig.8. The wireintroduced through the spindle K may pass directly between the wheels I J, and the wire then is passed around the wheel I, then again through between the two wheels I J, so that a convolution of the wire is made around the wheel I. The object of thus running the wire around one of the wheels I J is that the wire itself may partake of the oscillation which is imparted to the spindle and to the wheels I J, so that the plane of the wire beyond the wheels, may be varied by such oscillation, as and for the purpose which will hereinafter appear. The oscillation is imparted to the spindle H and the wheels which it carries from a crank L, which, revolving, imparts a reciprocating movement to a slide M, arranged in a suitable guide 0 and which extends into connection with a sliding rack P, supported in the bracket G below the spindle H. This rack P works into a pinion Q on a shaft R in the bracket G, said shaft carrying a bevel-pinion S, which works into a correspondingbevelpinion T on the. spindle H, and so that reciprocating movement imparted to the rack P will, through the said'pinions, impart a corresponding oscillatory movement to the spindle H. The crank-pin U (see Fig. 12) works in. a vertical slot V, made in or as a part of the slide M, and so that the circular movement .of the crank-pin working in the said vertical slot will give to the slide simplya reciprocating-movement. Thisis a common: mechanical movement and does not require particular description. The crank-pin 'movement upon the wire. ranged upon a shaft Z and the roll is upon a is made adjustable in the usual manner, so that the extent of reciprocation imparted to the slide may be increased or diminished, as occasion may require, and in the connection between the slide M and the rack P an adjusting-nut W is introduced, which is also a common adjusting device. The crank receives its rotation from the driving-shaft through an intermediate shaft d, which is driven by a gear 6 on the driving-shaft, working into a pinion fon the shaft (1. The axis of the crank-shaft is at right angles to the shaft 11, and on the shaft 01 is a bevel-gear g, which works into a corresponding bevel-gear h on the crank-shaft, as seen in Figs. 8 and 10. Hence a constant rotation is imparted to the crank-shaft. There are two bending-rolls 2' it, (see Fig. 9,) which are arranged upon shafts parallel with the driving-shaft, the said rolls standing substantially in the plane of the center of oscillation of the wheels I J, as seen in Figs. 9 and 10. These wheels are adapted to impinge upon the surface of the wire which is led between them from the wheels I J, and so that a drawing rotation imparted to the said two rolls 6 It will produce a drawing The rollz' is arlike shaft 4%, (see Fig. 8,) and these shafts receive a constant rotation from the drivingshaft through the shaft 01 and the train of gearing thereon 36-, 37,38, 39, and 40, as seen in Fig. 11. This train of gearing may be changed to give different surface velocities to the rolls, as more orless extent of feed is required, the adjustment of the train of gearing being a well-known mechanical device for this purpose, not necessary to be particularly described. In rear of the two rolls 1; his the deflecting or bending roll n. This roll is hung upon an arm 7', the arm being supported upon a pivot s on a horizontal slide t. This slidet is arranged on a suitable guide 35 and so as to receive a horizontal-reciprocating movement in a plane at right angles to the axis of thefeedingrolls i k and of the bending-roll n. This reciprocating movement is imparted in one direction by means of a cam ti. on the shaft d and in the reverse direction by a spring to, so that in the reciprocating movement of the slide 15 the bending-roll n will be carried nearer to or farther from the two rolls 1 k, as may be required, and as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 9. The position of the roll at is above the line of the wire as it passes from the wheels I J between the rolls i k, and

as seen in Fig. 9. Consequently the wire as it passes between the rolls '1' will be deflected or turned upward in order to pass over the roll n. This deflecting or turning of the wire out of its path produces a bend in the wire, which bend would produce a circle if the position of the roll 12, were constant in its relation to the rolls 1' 70; but any variations of the position of the roll n relative to the rolls 2' 70, will produce a cor responding variation in the bend, The roll at is adjustable up and down by raising or lowering the arm 7', which carries it, and this adjustment, as here represented, is produced by means of a set-screw in the slide 25, the head 2 of which works in a corresponding slot in the arm as seen in Fig. 9. The movement of the slide t toward the rolls 2' It will increase the angle of the roll it to the wire passing between the rolls i k, and will correspondingly shorten the radius of the curve produced.

On the other hand, the movement of the slide in the opposite direction, to take the roll at farther from the rolls t' is, will decrease the angle of the roll n with relation to the wire passing between the rolls Us, and will correspondingly increase the radius of the curve,

, and such change in the position of the roll n during the operation will gradually increase or diminish the radius, and such increasing or diminishing, being made at the-proper time, will produce an elliptical shape in cont-radistinction to a circle which would be produced if the roll n retained a constant position with relation to the rolls 2' k. The cam it presents a working-surface which will impart to the.

slide 25 the requisite reciprocating movement to move the roll it toward and from the rolls H0, and that in a complete operation of the machine the wire drawn through by the rolls 2' It will be broughtinto an elliptical shape-that is to say, starting from one endof the wire, which is to be at the center of one side of the frame, the roll n, under the action, of the cam u, will gradually advance toward the rolls 2' it until it reaches the extreme throw of the cam i11- that direction. This point on the wire is the center front, and the radius of the curve has been gradually shortening from the point of beginning to this point center front, or onefourth circumference of the frame. Then from that point the slide 25 moves in the opposite direction and takes the roll n away from the rolls 2' it under a movement corresponding to that by which the roll n was before advanced, and the extreme retreat of the roll at is reached when the center of the other side is reached, and the radius of the curve of the bend of the wire has been gradually increased from the center front to the center side. 7 From this point center side the roll it advances as before and produces the third quarter-bend, gradually shortening the radius until the center rear is reached. Then the roll it re-' treats until the fourth quarter is completed and the point of beginning reached. In this last quarter the radius of the curve is gradually increased so that the wire has been bent into an elliptical shape, which corresponds to the elliptical shape of the hat-brim for which the frame is intended.

The operation which I have described for bending the ellipse has been made without reference to the operation of the wheels I J, and without operation of those wheels the elliptical wire frame bent will be in a plane such as represented in Figs. 1 and 2.

To produce the dip or downward curvature at the front and rear of the frame, the wire is twisted on the quarters-that is, from the center side to the center front in. one direction and returned through the next quarter from the center front to the opposite side, and then again turned, as in the first direction, for the third quarter, or from center side to center rear, and returned on the fourth quarter, as from center rear to center side or place of beginning. The oscillation of the wheels I J is to produce this twist, and their oscillation is timed accordingly. Starting from the center side, the wheels I J stand in avertical pl'anethat is, so that the wire lies horizontallyflat between the wheels I J and in the same plane between the rolls 6 k. The wire passes around one of the wheels I or J, thence to therolls 'i is, where the Wire is firmly gripped.

When the machine is in operation and as the formation of a frame commences, the wire is drawn in, the frame commencing at the center of one side. The wheels I J oscillate to one sidesay the right-from their central plane, which gives to the wire a twist during this oscillation, the oscillation in this direction continuing until the center front is reached. From this point the said wheels gradually return to their position at starting, which is reached at the center opposite side. Then their revolution continuing they swing or oscillate in the opposite direction-that is, to the left-until the center rear is reached, and then return from that center rear to the place of beginning, or other end of the frame. This oscillation of the wheels I J puts a twist into the wire between the wheels I J and the rolls t'k according to the extent of oscillation of the two wheels I J. This twist so put into the wire will give to the frame the requisite dip, as illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, and 7. After the full frame has been completed that frame is cut from the wire and a second frame formed as before and that cut off, and so continuing successive frames are produced.

To automatically cut the wire when the frame shall have been completed, I arrangea pair of cutters 3 4, hung upon pivots 5 in a slide 6, arranged in a longitudinal guide 31, the slide being arranged to receive reciprocating movement in aplane substantially parallel with the axis of the rolls i hand in such relative position to the said rolls 2' it that the space between the cutters will be in the line of the wire; but normally the cutters stand at one side of the path of the wire, as seen in Fig. 8. At the time the frame is completed the cutters advance, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 8, so that one cutter will pass inside the frame and the other cutter outside, and so that the two cutters, being brought together, will out off the wire and separate the completed frame. Then the cutters retreat until required for a second cut, when they are advanced as before.

The guide 31 for the slide 6 is formed as a part of a bracket 41, (see Fig. 13,) the bracket being hung on the shaft 111, and secured to the frame by a bolt 42 through a segment-shaped IIO slot 43 in the bracket. This permits an ad justment of the guides and cutter-slide arou nd the shaft on as an axis as a convenience for changing the position of the cutters; but this is not essential to the invention.

To impart the reciprocating movement to the slide 6 required for the advance and retreat of the cutters, a cam 7 is provided on the driving-shaft B, from which a lever 8 extends up into connection with'the slide. The connection of the said lever with the slide is made by means of a collar 32 on the shaft m, this collar being constructed with an annular groove, into which a stud 33 in the uppereud of the lever 8 extends, and this collar is connected with or formed as a part of an arm 34, which is clamped to a projection forming a part of the slide 6. The lever is hung upon a pivot 9, (see Figs. 8 and 13,) so that under a vibratory movement of the lever 8 in one direction, operating through said collar, the slide, with the cutters, will be advanced, as seen in broken lines, Fig. 8, and then by the return movement of the lever in the other direction the cutters will retreat. The cutters are closed at the proper time to produce the cut by means of a sliding cam 10, arranged longitudinally in the slide 6, which carries the cutters. (See Figs. 14,15, and 16.) The nose of this cam is of wedge shape, so that as it is advanced it is forced between the tails of the cutters, separating the tails and forcing the cutters together, as seen in Fig. 16; but when the wedge is withdrawn the cutters are free to open, as seen in Fig. 14. This cam 10 is longitudinally guided in the slide 6, and is provided with a spring 11, the tendency of which is to force the cam rearward and hold it out of its active position, as represented in Fig. 15, but yet so as to yield for advance, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 15, and as seen in Fig. 16. The cutters are held in the open position by a spring or springs, (not shown,) so that normally they stand open.

To advance cam 10 at the proper time, a rotative cam 12 is arranged upon a bearing formed on the slide 6, (see Fig. 18,) the axis of which is parallel with the path of movement of the slide, the cam moving with the said slide, but free to revolve upon its own bearing, and this cam 12 is toothed upon its exterior surface, as seen in Fig. 17, so that a partial rotation may be imparted to it. On the side of the cam 12 toward the cutters a cam-surface 13 is formed, which at the proper time operates against the tail end 14 of the cam-slide 10, and so that under such rotation of the cam 12 the cam 10 will be forced 'forward, as from the position seen in Fig. 14 to that seen in Fig. 16, so as to produce the cut, and immediately after the cut is made the cam 12 is returned to permit the retreat of the cam 10 and the opening of the cutters. The operation ofthe cam 12 is timed so that the cutters will be presented and cut the wire as soon as the formation of the frame is completed, and then the cutters withdrawn for the formation of the next frame. The rotation is imparted to the cam 12 through a segment 15, hung upon a shaft m, as the shaft on has an axis upon which the segment may oscillate, and to the said segment a vibration is imparted in the cutting direction by means of a cam 17 on the shaft B, (see Fig. 18,) through a connecting-rod 18, hung to an arm 44, projecting from said segment, and the return movement of the'segment is imparted by a spring 19, as represent-ed in broken lines, Fig. 18.

In order that the feeding of the wire may cease as soon as the frame is complete, and

so that the wire may remain stationary while the cutting operation is being performed, the

bending operation is produced, say, in threethe shaping-cam 11., makes two revolutions during the formation of a single fran1ethat is, the shape of the camis such that under one full revolution it gives to the roll 72. the movement required in the formation of one half the frame, then the next revolution gives to the roll n the same movement which is required for the other half of the frame.

The gear 6 on the driving-shaft, (see Fig. 19,) and which communicates the rotation to the shaft d, through a pinion f on the said shaft d, (see Figs. 8 and 13,) is loose on the said driving-shaft B-that is, is held on the shaft only against longitudinal movement, but is. free from the shaft- -so that the shaft B may revolve without imparting rotation to thewheel e.

To connect the gear 6 with the shaft, a clutch is provided which consists of a bolt 20, arranged on a hub 21, made fast to the shaft.v This bolt is adapted to slide longitudinally toward or from the gear e, and, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 19, a spring 22 being provided, the tendency of which is to hold the bolt toward the gear 6, as seen in Fig. 19. On the side of the gear next the bolt shoulders 23, 24, 25, and 26 are formed, and from the bolt a finger 27 extends radially outward and is adapted to engage either of said shoulders, as the case may be, as seen in Fig. 19. When so engaged, the gear e is connected with the shaft, so as to revolve with it; but when the bolt is withdrawn, as indicated in broken lines,'Fig. 19, then the engagement of the shaft is broken and the gear 6, with all the parts connected thereto, will rest.

To throw out the bolt 20 at the proper time, a stationary cam 28 is arranged in the path of a shoulder 29, (see Figs. 18 and 20,) so that as the shaft B revolves at the proper time the shoulder 29 of the bolt will strike the stationary cam 28, their contact-* surfaces being beveled, and the bolt will be withdrawn from its engagement with the gear 6, but is free to be thrown toward the gear e so soon as it shall have passed from its en- IIO gagement with the stationary cam 28. When the bolt is so free from the cam, it advances toward the gear 6 and engages the next shoulder on the gear 6. Thus the gear 6 will remain stationary during. one-fourth of the revolution of the driving-shaft B, and all the parts connected with the gear a will also remain stationary. For convenience, the cam 17 is made as a part of the hub 21, and so that the cam 17, with the cam 7, which together operate the cutting device, revolves with the driving-shaft, and the time of revolution of the cutting device is while the gear 6 is disconnected from the driving-shaft, and the proportion between the gears e and f is such that the revolution so imparted to the shaft cl will be two complete revolutionsthat is to say, the time of stopping being onefourth of the revolution'of the gear e, that gear should have sixty-four teeth and the wheel f twenty-four teeth.

The cam 11. is made of greater length than the width of the shoe bearing thereon, and

diminishes in diameter from one end to the other, as seen in Figs. 8 and 10. Consequently the extent of movement which is imparted to the slide twill depend upon the position of the bearing between the slide and cam. The cam may be adjusted laterally on its shaft, or the bearing may be adjustable to change the position of the bearing upon the cam to obtain the desired size or shape of frame. Hence the same cam may be made to serve for various sizes and shapes of frame.

The bearing between the slide and cam is best produced by a shoe 30. (See Fig. 9%) It rests in a hemispherical seat on the slide, the shoe being of corresponding hemispherical shape, so that the shoe may bear upon the cam, yet rock in its seat, so as to adapt it to the varying shape of the face of the cam.

For different shapes of frame, cams of corresponding shape will be applied.

I claim- 1. In a machine for making wire hat'frames the combination of the oscillating tubular spindle H, wheels I J, hung to said oscillating spindle upon axes at right angles to the axis of said spindle, the rolls 6 k, the slide 1?, arranged in guides at right angles to the axes of the said rolls'i k, the bending-roll n, hung to said slide, and a revolving cam u, adapted to impart reciprocating movement to said slide, and thereby move the said roll n toward and from the said rolls 1' 70, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the wheels I J, ar-

ranged upon axes parallel to each other and arranged to oscillate upon an axis at right angles to their own axes, the rolls t' k, the reciprocating slide 15, arranged in guides at right angles to the axes of the said rolls 'i It, roll 12, hung to said slide, a cam u, adapted to impart reciprocating movement to said slide, and cutters arranged to cut the wire after the formation of the frame, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the two wheels I J, hung upon an axis at right angles to their own axes and so as to oscillate thereon, the rolls 7; 7c, the reciprocating slide t, cam 10, adapted to impart reciprocating movement to said slide, arm 0", hung to said slide 25, and roll 07. on said arm and with an adj usting-screw between said slide and arm for vertical adjustment of said roll n, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination of the wheels I J, hung upon an axis at right angles to their own axes and so as to oscillate thereon, rolls 7; k, the reciprocating slide t, arranged in guides at right angles to the axes of the rolls '1; k, a roll 01, hung on said slide, the reciprocating cutter-slide 6, arranged in guides substantially parallel with the axes of said rolls, out ters 3 4, hung in said slide, and a longitudinal sliding cam 10, arranged in the said slide and so as to enter between the tails of the cutters, with a rotating cam 13 hung upon the said slide and adapted to work against the rear end of said cam-slide 10, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination of the wheels I J, the rolls 7; lo, and the bending-roll n, with cutters for cutting off the complete frame, the said wheels and rolls actuated from one shaft, and the cutters receiving their operative action from a gear 6, loosely mounted on said shaft, but communicating with a corresponding gear f on said shaft (1, a clutch between said shaft B and the said gear 6, adapted to engage the said gear 6 at predetermined times, anda stationary cam 28, with intermediate mechanism, substantially such as described, arranged to throw said clutch out of engagement with said gear 6 also at predetermined times in the revolution of the shaft B, substantially as described, and whereby the bending devices remain stationary during the operation of cutting.

JOSEPH NUTT. lVitnesses:

EDMUND ALLEN, ELI O. BARNUM. 

